Felix Auger Aliassime successfully defended his title at the Swiss Indoors in Basel with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5) win over Hubert Hurkacz.
Auger Aliassime had reached just one semifinal in 2023 in Doha, but he has struggled with injuries since then. The Canadian player returned to his best form this week dropping just one set en route to his second consecutive title in Basel and his fifth career ATP Tour trophy.
The match was decided by two tie-breaks. Auger Aliassime dropped just nine service points across both sets.
Auger Aliassime earned just a single break point in the fourth game of a hard-fought first set, but Hurkacz saved it. Both players held on their service games en route to the tie-break. Auger Aliassime earned two mini-breaks to close out the first set after 61 minutes.
The second set went on serve until the ninth game, when Hurkacz went down 15-40 on serve and faced two break points. The Polish player rallied to hold serve. He fended off two more break points from 15-40 to hold serve at deuce.
Auger Aliassime held serve in the 12th game to force the second set to the tie-break. Hurkacz earned an early mini- break to open up a 2-0 lead, but Auger Aliassime won four consecutive points with two mini-breaks to take a 4-2 lead. Hurkacz pulled back on serve for the second time to draw level to 4-4. Auger Aliassime earned a match point on serve at 6-5 and closed out the match on the following Hurkacz’s serve with a backhand return.
“I am definitely back. I let my racquet talk. That’s always been the motto of my career. I have had the conviction that I can be a top player since I am a kid, but there are many doubts this year, but there were many doubts this year about my performances and why. I am happy that I was able to prove to everybody that I still belong among the best players in the world, that I can play at this level. I never doubted that, but it’s good to confirm it on the court”, said Auger Aliassime.
Auger Aliassime was given a wildcard entry by organizers as defending champion. He defeated wildcard Leandro Riedl in straight sets In the first round, Dutch qualifier Botic Van de Zandschulp in the second set, Russian qualifier Alexander Schevchenko in the quarter final and Holger Rune in the semifinals.
Hurkacz beat Dusan Lajovic and Jan-Lennard Struff in the first two rounds and came back from one set down to defeat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor before beating Ugo Humbert in three sets.